CHAPTER 10: Balefren’s story
I grew up in Canterlot. My family owned a villa on the Cliffside in the nice part of town. The Vivid family used to be the ones who would ensure the city was lit at night, it was a great honor to uphold. It’s been over a hundred years since those days, street lights have been updated with self sustaining magic versions now days, but my family still has some standing in unicorn society and my father was always sure to let me know of it.
My oldest memories of my father were him telling about the important legacy of the Vivid name. When I was just a young colt he would come home and make me practice using magic and understanding, when all I wanted to do was to go out and play with friends.
Once I was school age, it didn’t get any better. Every day when I would get home from magic school, he would be there ready to quiz me on what I had learned and eager to find my special gifts to ensure the family name would live on.
I always tried my hardest, but nothing seemed to ever be enough for him. I was the first in my class to learn to levitate and manipulate objects, he didn’t care, he wanted my special talent to be something that would reignite the family name.
Through his studies he had come up with a concept that would bring the Vivid name back. All his effort and might was put into shaping me to do this. He knew if the circumstances were right, my special talent could be in the form of a new light. The light he was looking for was a great glow that would be a beacon for all in the night. A night light that would outshine Luna’s moon.
As time went on and I was not achieving anything special with my magic, he took me out of class determined to train me himself. Twenty five different types of light magic he taught me. At first he kept me bathed in bright light, hoping to inspire or trigger more powerful effects. When that failed, he turned to a darker method.
All I wanted was to go home and be with mother, he would have none of it. He took me deep into the caves beneath Canterlot. If keeping me in the light was not working, he would put me in the dark.
I still remember that horrible day. He took me to the caves, much like as we had done many times before. He tried to encourage me and inspire me along the way. He was also sure to inform me that failure was not an option and the family could not tolerate failure.
On this day, he took me farther into the caves then we had ever gone before. A new area that had no reflective surfaces or gems, back to a place where the rock turned black, and there I stood facing an abyss of darkness.
I’d never seen something so void of light. A hole in the ground with no features of anything. “Learn or fail,” were his words as he lowered me into the pit. Down I went and as soon as my hooves touched the ground everything disappeared into a perfect dark. Looking up I could not longer see my father or the rest of the cave. There was something strange and magic about this pit that created its darkness.
Quickly I used my magic to create a lite, but nothing happened. The normal warm glow of light would not work. I tried another spell and another before starting to panic. I called for my father but there was no response.
There I was, a young colt, left in pitch black by his father, unable to use his light to break through. After an hour or so and not having been able to do anything, I felt terrible despair. I had never felt so alone then I did there.
They say if you’re left alone long enough with nothing to do or think about, you tend to reach a certain natural meditative state. I’m not sure how long it was and how many tears I shed before that happened to me.
Weeping in the dark, I suddenly knew that I did not want the same thing my father did. I knew that his methods were wrong; I knew that I could never live up to his vision. I knew I could never make him proud. And I knew I had to get away.
It had to have been about a day later that he returned for me. A torch was dropped into the pit exposing a simple set of stairs not far from where I had been laying. If I had been able to create light, I would have found the way out right away.
Once I reached the top of the stairs, there was my father. He couldn’t even look me in the eyes. He had no concern for my wellbeing, he was only disappointed that I had not found the way out, and had not earned my mark.
It was on that day I swore I would finish my studies then leave Canterlot forever. Years later I completed my school and did just that. I remember on my final day before I left for Trottingham, he didn’t even see me off. It was my mother I hugged and wished farewell too.
“He is proud of you,” she had whispered to me. “He’ll just never say it.”
I didn’t want to hear it; the wound in my heart was too great. Before I left, I wrote a simple letter addressed to my father. I left it in his room as I departed for the last time. I never planned on returning.
I traveled to Trottingham, where I got a job as a delivery pony. I spent the next several years wondering all around Equestria, learning and broadening my horizons. The spirit of adventure had overtaken me, the hopes and dreams of my father were laid to rest as I roamed free, not caring about lighting cities or what others thought of me.
Then I had the chance to deliver a message to the notorious Delphina Ray. I had to jump at the chance to meet this mysterious pony. So here I am.
“That’s sad,” Earren commented. “It’s not what I was expecting.”
“It’s about what I was expecting,” Delphina said as she held up her polished sword and inspected it.
“Well it is what it is,” Balefren said smiling reluctantly. He had just poured out years of pent up emotion and it felt good to get it out, even if it wasn’t pleasant.
“I agree with your mom, I think your father did care for you,” Earren said as she held a hoof to her chin thinking. “My father didn’t love me and I can say he never even put a small percent of focus on me compared to what yours did.”
Balefren let out a huff in disbelief. “You know the day I got my cutie mark… He just took a glance at it then went back to reading. Once he saw my flame he knew it was not the sign he was looking for.”
“What did you write him in that letter?” Delphina asked suddenly interested. Balefren turned his head and watched the grey mare sheath her sword into an almost hidden holder behind her bags.
“Something, I’ll only tell just before the end of the world,” he said imitating Delphina’s words from earlier.
“Touching,” Delphina replied sarcastically.
Earren suddenly stood up and moved into the middle of the camp standing over the spent fire pit. Her eyes were wide as a great big smile crossed her face.
“What now?” Delphina said turning her attaching away from Belfren.
“Are we all better friends now?” she questioned. Balefren and Derpy both gave each other a confused look before looking back at the tan unicorn for an explanation. “We all have very troubled pasts and now that we know that it’s a common bond we share, that makes us closer right?”
Balefren blinked awkwardly as he tried to think of a response, but Delphina beat him to it.
“Of course we all have troubled pasts, normal ponies live happily with each other, with no reason to go on crazy adventures,” she explained.
“And there has to be some reason why anypony would leave their loved ones and family behind as well,” Balefren added.
Their explanations did not faze Earren as her smile grew wider. Standing up on her hind legs she reached out in a hug motion towards the pair. “Friends,” she declared as she reached a hoof around Balefren’s neck and the other towards Derpy.
“I guess she’s right, it gives us a more common bond,” Balefren admitted as the hoof around his neck pulled him closer.
“For somepony who’s never known friendship before you’re taking it awfully fast,” Derpy commented as she found herself embraced as well.
“It’s just so nice to know not everyone is smiles and laughter, like me,” Earren said smiling and laughing.
Balefren could not hide his own smile as it grew across his face at the irony he was involved in. “Definitely not Derpy,” he commented. “Or is the reason she won’t share her past, is that’s its actually very happy and nice?”
The response to his question was a kick from the grey pegasus as she broke the group hug. “You are not very bright Vivid,” she muttered as the unicorn staggered and fell to the ground gripping his shin.
Earren laughed as she considered it to be playful antics. Balefren lay in the ground silent at first, he had thought it was playful ribbing, but he caught a glimpse of Delphina’s eyes and she not happy about his implication one bit.
After a moment, of Earren laughing, Balefren joined in laughing nervously as he rocked himself back upright.
“Alright we can be better friends now,” he agreed talking mostly to Earren. “First rule is we never talk about our pasts anymore.”
“Deal!” Earren exclaimed. “Derpy how about you?” But the pegasus had quietly slipped out of the grass shelter and disappeared into the night.
“She does that,” Balefren remarked as he reached for a grass bundle that serve as bedding.
“Is she mad?” Earren asked concerned.
“I’m not sure, she’s hard to read,” Balefren lied as he wanted to say, ‘yes she’s mad.’
“Should we go after her?”
“You’ll never find her in the dark, let’s just get some sleep.”
“Ok,” Earren said as she took a few steps closer to where Balefren was laying down.
Balefren continued to move the makeshift bedding around until he was satisfied. Once he was happy he lay down and closed his eyes. Earren stood over him just watching him for a few moments. He knew she was still standing there since he did not hear her move any.
“What is it?” he said not taking the time to look up.
“Can I put my bedding next to you?” Earren asked timidly.
“Sure whatever,” Balefren said not really hearing her question. Earren sqee’d happily as she grabbed her bundle of grass and tossed it down next to the white unicorn. She took a moment to stomp it down and flat before rolling onto it.
Balefren cringed at all the noise the grass made as it was bent and pushed around. “What are you doing?” he asked feeling annoyed as he rolled over.
Earren was now lying facing him, just inches from his face. “What?” Balefren said surprised.
“I don’t want you to feel alone in the dark,” Earren said kindly. “Like last night.”
Balefren felt his heart race for a second as if he had been caught doing something wrong. She didn’t really know, he thought. She couldn’t really know how the dark made him feel. “I was trying to comfort you last night, that’s all; I’m not scared of being alone.” Balefren explained trying to sound tough.
“I’ll leave them if you want,” Earren offered. “I’m used to being all alone, it’s ok.”
“No no,” Balefren corrected quickly. “You’re already over here and all set, no need to move around again.”
Earren smiled to herself as she felt confirmed that Balefren Vivid was afraid of being alone in the dark. “I’ll stay then, sweet dreams,” she said.
Balefren nodded slightly as he rolled himself around so that he was facing away again. “Good night.”
“Real friends,” Earren said to herself softly as she began to close her eyes to rest.
“What?” Balefren remarked as hearing her say something.
“Good night,” Earren said.